Direction indicator



' June 9, 1.93]. R. F. SMITH DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 5, 1927 aSheets-Sheet 2 pnnulrn an. ion a n. vnav wwii ys l af 1.809.362

301 331 F, SMITH; or .Lynfifmissecnnsn'rrs =1 niitncrion INDICATOR IThis invention eimjs to pie iae at, he eirito thejfront rage :15,,;abovethefwintta provecl directionf'ndicestor for vehicles-g and 3 sh1e1d,jisv a bracket16"heving"en'dhhqnel? in the elc'ompanying(IrawingsThaveshown disposed f arm 18 extending upwardly merely for illustrativepurposes acoinplete outwardly from sa'igiit o'p' for supporting Iembodiment of theinventi'on, wherein: 7 its upperend a'suitzibleindicator', said V Fig. 1 is a part eievationa n'ci part section cator beinghigh enough withrelation of an indicating device, showing a portionjytopand'fa-r enough outfrom'the'side't l s only ofthe vehicle body to whichthe device so asto be clearly visible either from iii'froiifi i gmgh dy1 r I 2 orfrom the rear'of the vehil'e", yetic1o Q Fig.2-is 21; sideelevation of the indicatorenough to the side of the vehicle to he' with}and arm for supporting it; in theouter edge of the fenders. and mild?Fig. 3 is at si'e elevation of'a Vehiclehody guards of theve'hicle,which prfotect' the 'i with the indicating device 'a.ttzrch'edj,includfc1ica't0r from being hit ofhrekenofihy palss. ing'ztsignaHngdeViee positioned at the rear ing Vehicles or objects passed bythevehicle? 15 end ofth'e vehicle body; 7 r The indicatOrQO,asshownrnostelearlyfin; Fig.v lis wdeta-il diagrammatic View of Figs. 2,3," 5 a'ndfi; is formedjin'two'parts" th'e-ini icator and 'a portion ofits stipporting '2 2.anc1 24:, which parts ar'e seoilre'dto' 6p" f-iarm, showing in full and dO'ttediinesthe sl'te ends of a stud orhaftj26" rota't Various positions that said indicator is" m ln l inbearings 1r d i fih lllp .20 adapted fio'oceiipy'; e

-' end of the arm l8 .sa i'd' two seetionghi g' Fig. '5' is'a sectiontaken onthe' line 5 -5" arrangedtorotate in unison frond d neutral ofFig. 1, showing the arm and bracket position',vshown in full lines atag'Fig, 4F.) for supporting the indicator; wherein saic1' indicator,pointsupwerdly to;

Fig. 6-7isa detail vertical sectiontakenon positions b onepointing-respectively to the I the1 ine6-6, O'fFig. 1, showing 'theconnecihfi an g ti ho do' 'e i lines r1 35 Fig.' 10 isia' diagrammaticview'ofthe de-" spectively. Arranged within s d 6 0 tions between theindicator and the supsaidFig. 4. The positionaindiceftes thet' po ear Ihe e c is g ngls gh 1m thep tion; 7 is'a verticals'ection taken on the Ib indicate/sin l l fl l 6 & igh fi l Iii line 7 7 ofFig'. 1=;

5 Fig. 8 is a detail section takenontheline ti'on cl pointing downwardlyand fndiceft n' j 8+8of Fig. 5,; V V, thatthe veh'ole is about to cometoe sto v V Fig. 9j 'is a detaillongitudinal "section Eachof thesections 22l andi'24 "of the through i1. coupling device" for theendless(11 1 0 E hOHOW d 1 1 it f i operating member for the indicator; parentfront and rearfWetHsBOJ-enfd' vice showing wiring circuits for theVarious iu el c ri' lamps 34 daptecl' @1 0 jb'elighteti elementsthereof; and" 1 s T -etn ghtor when desired toillumine te cer Fig. is a:rear elevation of tiiesi'gm L tam po slti'o'ns of theflindicator;

ing device arranged at the rear of theve- Although I have choseninl'the' fpresent @125 i 5 hide, v V 2 ampleto illustratetheindicator"asfinzidein' g thefdrawings'; referring "particular-1y twoparts, respectivelyarran'ged onieppp ite to Fig; 1,; I have shown aportion of ,the'top' sides of the" siippo'rting sun, it is be; SFOf-avehicle togetherwith a. portion ofthe unders'toodthatthe inventioni"not1imited steeringwheeLlO in its propen'reTaltion totoqthis"arrangement. 1 I saicl'top8; The view-of the top herelshown 'Forconvenienceinnssembling ehch in is w section taken transver'seiy ofthe'vehicie cator part is also made, in twofisect approximately on thelineof the steering cluding'wbase 36 andeicoiier38 'which at wheel:showing; part of the windshie1c1 12 in; ter issecuretl'tokthebillse'infanj alifiropriht elevation and a door 14 insection. manner;snch'jrfcr-exempl shy-sore s46;

.Se'eureci to the-upper portion; Of-said top, The base 36i'ssec '1red.to'thef'eii'cl ofthesti df ion or shaft 26 byvmeans of a nut 42 engagingthe screw threaded reduced end 4-4: of the shaft 26. In this manner saidplate will be securely fastened to the shaft and be 5 caused to rotatetherewith. The cover'38 has a peripheral flange 46 extending entirelyaround the same and this flange and said base 36 embody in the presentexample the form of an arrow. The depth of the flange 46 is suflicientto enclose the lamps 34 which are herein supported priate brackets 48secured to the base g The arm 18 carries at its upper end laterallyprojecting bosses 50 within which the bearings 28 are mounted. Thesebosses are each recessed in their outer faces at 51 to receiveinsulating discs 52 which are provided, herein' in thelrrouter faces,with circular grooves 54 and 56 to receive circulancoin- ;.Ini1tatorplates 58 composed of metal or other suitablecurrentconductinginaterial. The plates ';58 are interrupted at certainselected points and set within said interruptions are 1nsulatingsegments 60 constituting neutral zones. for a pair of contact pins orbrushes 62..., These brushes'are slidably arranged in blocks ofinsulating material 64: secured herein'to' the adjacent portion of eachbase The brushes 62 are yieldingly maintained in'pos'itions {to contactwith the faces oft 6 segments 60 and the commutator plates 58by'spring'sj66 and said springs are connect'ed, by conductors 68, incircuits inelud-i in the filaments of the elective lamps 34.

The segment .60 for each indicator section, is arranged in a position onthe arm 18 so as to be engaged by the. brushes 62 when the indicatingarrow wardly,;as shown by theposition a, Fig. 4. But as said indicatoris turned to the right or left the electric circuit, including thecommutator segments'58 and" the pins 62,

will be closed, provided said circuit is CO1 e5; pletedat all otherpoints, tolight the lamps J 34jand thusilluminate the faces of theindicator parts 22and 24, at least by the time they reach the positions0 and Z) in Fig. l, thus indicating to approaching or passing ao'vehicles comingeither from the front or rear of thefvehicle that thevehicle herein,

is to make aturn either'to the right or to the left or 'to stop.

including the lamps 34, may be completed as; in any suitable manner, butherein I provideYmetal. brackets 48 to but separated by insulation 49from the bases 36 which" are likewise of metal, and a wire constitutinga part of the circuit for said lamps conducts current from one tothe'other ofsaid lamps.

The bases 36 areprovided with concentric angular flanges 7 Owhichencircle the bosses 1 50, overlapping the same a considerable dis-'65.-J tanc'e soascompletely toencircle and protect in approis pointinga up The electric circuit,

which are secured the circuit making and breaking devices in cluding thesegments 58 and 60.

The arm 18 is herein hollow and forms a conduit for wires 72 whichextend from the commutators 58 through suitable orifices 7i windshield.The shaft also has secured thereto a sprocket 82 over which said chain78 runs, whereby rotation of said shaft '80 will impart a like movementto the shaft 26 and its sprocket 7 6.

Although I have illustrated the member for opera'tively connecting thesprocket 82 with the sprocket 76 as a chain,.it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to'the use of a chain.

In order to eliminate slack in said chain or endless member 7 8 I haveprovided a 'cou pling 84. This coupling desirably includes terminalmembers 86 and 88 adapted for connection respectively with the ends ofthe endless member 78. Oneof these terminal members, herein the member86, has a flanged end 90 arranged to rotate against a shoulder 92 formedinteriorly of one end of a tubular casing 9 4., The casing 94 is alsothreaded internally at gage the screw-threaded end 98 of the member88,'while a lock nut 100 also has screwthreaded engagement with themember 98 and is arranged to be set down against the end of the casing94 when the member 88 has been properly adjusted tl161GlI 1,'tQ holdsaid member in adjusted position The co operating parts 9 l and 98 arelong enough to allow for suflicient relative longitudinal movementbetween the members 88 and 86 to take up wear or stretch in the chainand thus keep it properly tensioned so that no lost motion will takeplace between the indicator 20 and the operating instrumentalitiestherefor.

Although I have hereinbeforeexplained that the indicator 20 may be movedto point downwardly as shown in the position at, Fig. 4, to indicatethatthe motor vehicle carrying the indicator is to come to a stop, itmay be possible that this position of the indicator;

would'not me'an anything to thosenot familiar with the signaling systememployed.

Therefore to make surethat theintentions' of the operator of the vehicleare understood by others an illuminated sign is provided bearmg the wordStop which may be seen.

from infrontorfrom the rear ofthe Vehi- 96 to receive and en effectivethezarm i 10.6 iwhich the steering wheel.

.cle: arranged to be illuminated whenfdesired on at the time theindicating arrow 20 isip'ointing. downward: This itlnminatedusi'gm may Ibe placed in; any convenient locationno-nat vehicle, but forconvenience; it :is arrange in thezhollow' arm 18 between 20 "and" theand between said windows I provide lamps r 1 The lamps a maybelightediin ahy propriate' v the operation of; the device'desirably"this is automaticallyzdoneprovided the circuit: otherwise closed whenthe arrow: is i point ing-idownwardly-ethrou'gh i thy conductors adaptedto be electricallyconnected by a sw tichi'1 12 which a ti-th'eappropriate time is closed by a spring plunger 114 protruding from theface of the arm 18. ger 114 lies in the path of a cam likememher 116carried herein by the indicatormerm her 22 and of such a length that thecontact is made onlywhenthe arrow is pointing downwardly. Thegconductors110 may be led through the hollow arm'18 in any suitable manner tothesource of current which supplies current to thelamps 34. r

. For convenience in ing parts of the mechanism enclosed within thehollow arm I provide covers 118, 119

and 120; herein'for one side of said arm,

which covers are secured in place by screws 122.

Motion may be impartedto the indicator" 20 in anyappropriate mannerybutdesirably this is effected by an operating handle 124 mounted adj acentto the steering Wheel 10in a convenient position for the j operatortomanipulate without taking his hand from cured to the end of ablyarranged in a cylindrical casing 128 formedat'the'end of ahollow'arm130. A

' spring-pressed detent132 is arranged in said fee,

handle'124 to engage suitably placed recesses 134 formed in theouter'fa'ce of said cylindrical casing the detent- 132 will snap intotheseveral recesses and tend to hold the indicating arrow 20 in the desiredpositions. 7 The shaft 126 may but herein I have andthis sign ii ay' beand desirablyiis-f which sections are h suitable couplings similarto'the couplingi84 y 1 shown in 'Fig; 9", except that one ofthecoup-g Vthe indicator vehicle": 'body,'. as shown most clearlyiin Figs; 1: and:5: I Toimake this finest- 1851133 openings 102 in-the front and rearfacesethereofcontainingiwindows of; transparent'materiali 104-which mayv be glass or any other appropriate"material,I

are 'mounte'd in; inetal bracketsjg 108" securedtor'but insulateda-bystrips 109' ircuit form'edi manner andat suitable; times in from thecasing: 128 gifnto' the adjacent corner of the vehiclewhereitixis-asecured in any The plunassembling or replaca.

' saidrendless member,'therefore I have shown two adjusting; couplings84 in thi's arrange, 7 g

The handle 124 se-V a shaft 126,herein rotatsignals given bythe latter;7 To this: end I 128' at distances ,apart corre- I A V k p V spending tothe positions a; b, c and dot the eir -tlldxfl t e ft {80;whiehaingthisr indicator 20, so that as said handle is movediaround saidcasing be operatively connect edwith the shaftSO'bearing the sprocket'82why any appropriate means,

136comp0sed in part of sprocket chain sec'- tionstg138 and in part offlexible cables 140,

connected together}; by

spiiocket 142 secured- I on the end oh the shaft 80 'which extendsthroughthe front1-2of the vehicleywhilethef opposite end of said end- IYes-a: sprocket 144-seoured= Idlers 14 6 are rotatably' the endlessmemben be less: member enga to the shaft 126'. arranged to, engagesprocket 142' toimaintain the endlessnmember substantially parallelforth'e greater portion 1 a tween the operatingizhandle- 124': and theof its length with the side wall of the motor vehicle; and toenclo'sesaid endless member fggg' the arm 13.0 ishollow and:extendsiobliquely appropriate manner, toathe side; thereof; 7

A casing- 148 extends: from the arm It is however; to: be understoodthat the ine vent-ion:is'- not limited totheparticular I operav ativeconnectingl means herein shownzwv :Wfherev an endless driving. element13118611 also {an endless element is: employed between" the: shaft 80;and the shaft 26vsupportingzthe indicators; 20, it is desirable'thattension aid-r j usting gdev ic'es be used in both stretches of ment inFig. 1, one on either sideof the sprocket 142-, so-tl1at whenslaclme'ss' occurs 1nany of the chain or: driving: elements, thisslackness may first be takenup 2in the chain 7 8 and=thenbyicarefuliadjustinent of the two;

couplings 84 in the4 endless element 113116 properfirelation between theoper atingwhans: ,dle 124and theindicator may be maintaineda Itisw-ithin the scopewofthepresent inven-V tion to'p'rovide an-additionalindicator at the 't the indicator 20 to give some at least of tlieprovide an -indicator 150, herein secured-*to caseisextendedlongitudinally of the vehicle rear of the vehicle similar;to:the part 24 0f cato'r 15Q has= aqtransparientgrear fac'ef'154" th atis 1 adapted to -be illuminated when ditions refquire by: lamps l56@enc-lose'd withins saidgindicator and? herein, connected in "ciit- 130a Iceals the; operating-1' instrument'alities from r the operatinghandle126 to I the' indicator 20-; I

. "101 betweentthehandle 1254'andxthe shaft-80iand I upwardly to theshaft 80 ,vthereby completelyf enclosing: the remaining portion ofi theend-w signal will be illuminated of the signaling device.

cuit with the lamps 34 in the front indicator 20 In Fig. lO'of thedrawings. I have illus trated one hook-up for the various elements Inthis arrange ment the rotary switches including the commutator rings 58show their main circuits 72in circuit with a battery 73. This circuitis'extended to the rear of the vehicle and includes the lights 156 inthe rear indicating member 150. Also included in this circuit'is aswitch 159 constituting themaster switch for that part of the Whole.elec trical system which illuminates the movable indicators 22, 24 and150. This switch is mounted in a convenient location near the operatorsseat, for example in the. arm 130 directly back of the operating handle124,

and herein comprises two'buttons 160 and.

162.. By pressing the button 160 the circuit including said switch willbe closed, lifting the button 162, and uponpressing the button 162 saidcircuit 72 will'be broken. The circuits including the lamps 841 and conductors 68, hereinbefore described, contain the pins 62. Upon therotation of the indicating members 30 and 32 these pins engage thecommutator rings 58 at theproper points in the rotation of saidindicators'and complete the said electric circuits, and if the switch159 is closed the lamps in the several movable signaling devices will beillumi nated. Upon the further rotation of the indicator members 20 and150 to the positions thereof indicating Stop the cam 116 will engage thepin 114 to move'the terminal 112 into engagement with the other terminalof the circuit 110; The lamps 106 inthe arm 18 will likewisebeilluminated by this movement of the indicator to indi cate that thevehicle is about to come to a all ot er points.

It is, however, desirable that this circuit 110' be controlledindependently of the circuit 72 including the lamps '84: so that thestop rovided said circuit is completed at former may be closedcontinually or during operations of the vehicle eventhough it belightenough to see said indicators22, 24 and 150. i i

To this end a switch. 160 is included in said circuit 110. The switch159 has no efi'ect whatsoever upon the latter circuit.

The indicator 150 is herein associated with a transparent walled housing162 having its transparent window directed rearwardly and bearinguponits surface the" word Stop. Lamps 164 (see Fig; 10) are contained insaid housing and in the circuit 110. which includes the lamps 106 sothat when the switchf112'is closed the rear stop simultaneously with]the :forward one in the arm 18.

I his to be understood that the invention .the combination of is notlimited'to the herein shown.

Claims. 2 1. In a' device of the character described, an oscillatorydirection indicator, an operating member therefor, endless operatinggeared connections bespecific. embodiment tween said indicator and saidoperating.

member, and positive adjusting means arrangedin each of the runs of saidendless connection adapted to maintain said indicator and operatingmember ,in predeter-

